Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) is becoming
more and more difficult in Russia as sexual minorities are facing
legal and social discrimination, harassment and even violent ‘hate
crime’ attacks from religious and neo-nazi groups.
In June 2013, Russia’s homophobia moved from the streets into
the country’s legislation as the State Duma unanimously adopted
an anti-gay law banning "propaganda of non-traditional sexual
relations", effectively making it illegal to hold any gay pride
events, speak in defense of gay rights, or say that gay
relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships.
Captions:
Picture 1: Kirill Fedorov, age 21, is bleeding from his face after
national-conservative extremists have surrounded, beaten and
kicked on him and and his friends attending a Gay Pride Rally in
St. Petersburg.
Picture 2: The intimate night club Central Station is one of few
havens for LGT-people in St. Petersburg.
Picture 3: Dmitry Chizhevskiy, age 27, had his left eye
permanently destroyed by homophobes on November 3rd 2013
when three armed men entered into a private meeting for
homosexuals in St. Petersburg.
Picture 4: Ekaterina Alekseeva, age 21, appears in court after
being arrested at a Gay Pride Rally on June 29th 2013. The rally
was declared illegal under the law banning 'propaganda for non-
traditional sexual relations' and Ekaterina Alekseeva must now
face the consequences.
Picture 5: Yaroslav Yevtushenko (left) embraces his boyfriend
Dmitry Chunosov at St. Petersburg's registry office where the
couple, as an act of protest, attempts to officially register their
marriage. As gay marriage is not acknowledged in Russia their
submission was promptly rejected by the authorities.
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